NFL Predictions Week 1: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Few things motivate an NFL team more than getting swept by a division rival the previous year. That is exactly why the Dallas Cowboys will be a dangerous team when they open up the 2012 regular season against the New York Giants on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at MetLife Stadium.

The Cowboys are currently 3.5-point road underdogs in the betting odds against the New York Giants in Week 1 (courtesy of the SBR Forum). The total has held steady at 47.

Dallas allowed New York quarterback Eli Manning to throw for 746 combined yards in the two meetings a year ago, something that the team needed to address during the offseason.

They made a significant move in the 2012 NFL draft, trading up to select LSU Tigers cornerback Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall selection, hoping to solidify a secondary that ranked 23rd and allowed 244.1 passing yards per game last year.

Sports bettors need to be cautious in taking the points, as America's Team was 0-3 against the spread on the road against NFC East division rivals in 2011, failing to cover those games by an average of 14 points.

New York will be trying to avoid a hangover after beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. But past champions have won and covered their season-opening contests the past two years.

Even with its road woes in this situation a year ago, I recommend backing Dallas at the current price, especially with Tony Romo needing a strong start to the 2012 campaign. The 32-year-old signal-caller has averaged 248.8 passing yards in 10 career games against the Giants, throwing for 23 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.

The time is now in Big D. 

Early Pick: Dallas Cowboys +3.5

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